Land Use Planner

Join the State of Maine’s land use planning team and help build thriving communities that are sustainable, resilient to environmental challenges, and prepared for the future!

LAND USE PLANNER (Senior Planner)

Municipal Planning Assistance Program

Opening Date: February 28, 2025 Closing Date: April 01, 2025

Grade/Salary: Grade 25 - $54,412.80 - $76,315.20

AGENCY DESCRIPTION: The Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has a limited period Land Use Planner opportunity. MPAP provides land use planning expertise for Maine citizens, municipalities, regional planning councils, state agencies, and Legislature. It promotes growth management principles in state and local policies, programs, regulations, and investments. This full-time position is located in Augusta.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: Your professional services will assist Maine municipalities with addressing the intersection of land use and climate resilience in the context of a housing crisis. This position will support and inform grant programs for municipalities and Regional Councils and provide a policy and research bridge among state practitioners in land use, housing, and community resilience programs. In this inter-sectoral position, the candidate’s skills will inform the executive department, legislature, and line agencies.

The Land Use Planner will work across multiple program areas, including the Community Resilience Partnership and the Municipal Planning Assistance Program, the Floodplain Management Program, the Housing Opportunity Program, the Code Enforcement Training and Certification Program, and the Maine Coastal Program. The successful candidate will develop land use technical assistance guidance materials, assist in the design and review of grant programs, and support implementation of the cross-sectoral land use recommendations of Maine Won’t Wait, the state’s 4-year action on climate, updated in 2024.

The successful candidate will have experience in, and know the principles, practices, methodologies, and objectives of, municipal planning; sustainability, community resilience, and land use planning issues in the context of severe housing shortage; local government management, capabilities, and constraints; funding opportunities to address municipal planning concerns; and the ability to evaluate land use planning problems and recommend solutions. Finally, the candidate can extract and apply information from technical documents, effectively communicate orally and in writing, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and work collaboratively in a team environment. Work is performed under limited supervision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree in assigned area and four (4) years of related work experience. Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Assigned area(s) for this position: Community planning and development, environmental sciences, public administration, or a related field.

Preference will be given to those who demonstrate:

• Familiarity with general principles of land use planning and community resilience planning
• Experience in housing issues, housing development, comprehensive planning and land use ordinance development, and community development
• Experience in GIS, database management, and other computer software applications.

Excellent organizational, writing, communication, teaming, problem-solving, consensus-building, and process skills are essential.

A Master’s degree in planning, or AICP certification, is a plus.

• Remote work options are available for this position with the approval of management.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to complete and submit a State of Maine Direct Hire Online Application, along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#acf

Applications must be received by April 01, 2025

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